Lens-fitted photographic film unit for taking plural simultaneous exposures

ABSTRACT

A lens-fitted photographic film unit is pre-loaded with photographic film. First and second stationary openings are formed respectively in front of first and second exposure chambers. A wide-angle taking lens is disposed in front of the first stationary opening, and has a shorter focal length. A telephoto taking lens is disposed in front of the second stationary opening, and has a longer focal length. In response to operation of a shutter release button, a single shutter plate slides horizontally. Wide-angle and telephoto movable openings are formed in the shutter plate and are registrable with the respective stationary openings. The telephoto movable opening is different in size from the wide-angle movable opening. When the shutter plate is slid, the movable openings open or close the stationary openings simultaneously, and expose the film to make two simultaneous exposures. In a preferred embodiment, the wide-angle lens is disposed behind the shutter plate. A transparent lens plate is disposed in front of the shutter plate to cover the shutter plate, and is provided with the telephoto lens.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/194,386, filedFeb. 10, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,097.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lens-fitted photographic film unit.More particularly the present invention relates to a lens-fittedphotographic film unit in which, upon a single shutter release, pluralexposures are simultaneously taken on a photographic film.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Known lens-fitted photographic film units (hereinafter referred tosimply as film units) are disclosed U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,884,087 and4,972,649, and are now on the market, e.g. under the trademark"Fujicolor Quick Snap" (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.). Suchfilm units are a single-use camera pre-loaded with photograph filmstrip(hereinafter referred to as film). A user who has purchased the filmunit winds the film frame by frame back into a cassette after eachexposure. The film unit in its entirety is forwarded to a photographiclaboratory after exposure of all the frames of the film.

The film unit is sold at a low price as compared with usual cameras.There have been a number of different variants of commercially availablefilm units, such as a built-in flash type, a panoramic type, atelephotographic type, and a type changeable for close-up photography.

It is conceivable to design a film unit in which two taking lenses aremounted and are different as to focal length, and in which two exposuresare simultaneously taken to create imaging frames on film, respectivelyin telephotographic and wide-angle fashions, upon a single operation ofreleasing a shutter device. A single shutter plate is also conceivablefor the operation of opening or closing respective photographing systemsassociated with the telephoto and wide-angle lenses, and if it werepossible to use such a shutter plate, this might be advantageous becauseof the low cost and simple processes for manufacturing the same.

Such single shutter plate would have two movable openings, eachrespectively associated with one of the photographing systems. Theshutter speed, which is to say the exposure time, is equal for the twosystems because the single shutter plate is moved at a speed common toboth of the photographing systems. However, the lenses differ as tofocal length and also as to f-number or aperture stop, when theassociated stationary openings have a similar size. Should the shutterspeed be determined to be suitable for one of the photographing systems,the shutter speed will be either too high or too low for the otherphotographing system. The common shutter speed will be too high for ahigh f-number, and so will cause an under-exposed condition of animaging frame. Otherwise the common shutter speed will be too low for alow f-number, and will cause an over-exposed condition.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention isto provide a lens-fitted photographic film unit in which a plurality ofexposures are simultaneously taken with good balance between theexposures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lens-fittedphotographic film unit in which a shutter member, for taking a pluralityof exposures simultaneously, can be protected reliably from externalshocks or dirt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of thisinvention, a lens-fitted photographic film unit is pre-loaded withphotographic film, provided with first and second exposure chambers, andadapted to create first and second imaging frames simultaneously on thefilm. First and second stationary openings are formed respectively infront of the first and second exposure chambers for introducing lightinto the first and second exposure chambers. A first taking lens isassociated with the first stationary opening and has a first focallength. A second taking lens is associated with the second stationaryopening and has a second focal length longer than the first focallength.

A shutter release means is externally operable. A single shutter plateis disposed to be moved in response to operation of the release means.First and second movable openings are formed in the shutter plate andrespectively associated with the first and second stationary openings.When the shutter plate is moved, the movable openings are moved to openand then close the stationary openings simultaneously so as to exposethe film. The second movable opening is larger than the first movableopening.

The exposure times, which is to say the shutter speeds, can bedetermined so as to be suitable for two photographing systems. Even withthe two taking lenses different in f-number, the shutter speeds will beadequate for both photographing systems. The two exposures aresimultaneously taken under well-balanced conditions of exposure. Imagingframes never involve any problem of an under-exposed or over-exposedcondition.

In a preferred embodiment, a transparent lens plate is disposed in frontof the shutter plate to cover the shutter plate, and this lens plate isprovided with the second lens. The first lens is disposed behind theshutter plate. The shutter plate, for taking a plurality of exposuressimultaneously, can be protected reliably from external shocks or dirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a photographic filmunit according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section illustrating the film unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view, in elevation, illustrating a shutterdevice in the film unit in its inactive condition;

FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A but showing a shutter deviceactuated;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating a pair of imaging framescreated on film in the film unit of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating a print produced from theimaging frames of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a different film unit in whicha shutter plate is protected reliably;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section illustrating the photographic film unitof FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section illustrating anotherpreferred exposure section of a photographic film unit in which anauxiliary lens is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, which illustrates a novel lens-fitted photographicfilm unit, a photographic film housing 3 has a main body 13, and frontand rear covers 12 and 14 secured to the main body 13 in retention bythe use of claws. The film housing 3 includes an exposure section 4. Aviewfinder window 6 is formed through the photo film housing 3. Thereare formed openings in the front cover 12 for allowing external accessto a pair of taking lenses 10a and 10b, a counter wheel 8, and a filmwinding wheel 9. A depressible portion 7 for use as a release button isformed on the front cover 12.

The main body 13 has the exposure section 4 on which the taking lenses10a and 10b are mounted, and includes a cassette-containing chamber 17and a photographic film supply chamber 16 on respective lateral sides.The cassette-containing chamber 17 contains a cassette 20. The supplychamber 16 contains a roll 21 of the photographic film 19, which hasbeen fully drawn out of the cassette 20.

On the rear cover 14 are formed two bottom lids 14a and 14b, whichrespectively cover the bottoms of the cassette-containing chamber 17 andthe supply chamber 16 in light-tight fashion.

In FIG. 2 showing the film unit in section, the main body 3 has twoexposure chambers 15a and 15b formed between the cassette-containingchamber 17 and the supply chamber 16. In the cassette-containing chamber17, a spool 20a mounted in the cassette 20 is coupled with the windingwheel 9, in engagement with a projection which is formed on theunderside of the wheel 9 and projects down into the chamber 17. The film19 with the cassette 20 is of a 135 (35 mm) type defined by theIndustrial Standard Organization (ISO) 1007, 1979 version. Inside thecassette 20, a trailing end of the film 19 is retained on the spool 20a.The taking lenses 10a and 10b are arranged in a direction parallel witha strip of the film 19, and have optical axes 22a and 22b which areparallel to each other.

The taking lenses 10a and 10b have different focal lengths: the formerhas a longer focal length and is used in telephotography, whilst thelatter has a shorter focal length and is used in wide-angle photography.Both telephoto and wide-angle lenses 10a and 10b are formed on a singlelens plate 10 of acrylic resin. It is also possible separately to formthe two taking lenses. Behind the taking lenses 10a and 10b arestationary openings 11a and 11b having an equal diameter.

Behind the stationary openings 11a and 11b is disposed a shutter plate23. When the shutter button 7 is depressed, a kick-away lever 2illustrated in FIG. 1 is swung. The lever 2 upon being swung slides theshutter plate 23 in a direction toward the cassette-containing chamber17. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, there are movable openings 23aand 23b formed in the shutter plate 23. The movable opening 23aassociated with the longer focal length is longer than the movableopening 23b associated with the shorter focal length. With the shutterplate 23 slid, the movable openings 23a and 23b are respectivelysuperposed on the stationary openings 11a and 11b, and this is theshutter operation of the exposure section 4. A tension spring 35 isconnected to the shutter plate 23 and urges shutter plate 23 in adirection toward the supply chamber 16. The shutter plate 23, afterbeing slid away from supply chamber 16 (FIG. 3B), is in turn slid backby the tension in spring 35 for shutter closing of the exposure section4 (FIG. 3A). The movable openings 23a and 23b are thus moved out ofregistry with the stationary openings 11a and 11b, which are now closedagain.

Although the telephoto lens 10a has a focal length longer than thewide-angle lens 10b, the lenses 10a and 10b are equally distant from thefilm 19 to be exposed. To form a telephoto image on the photo film 19 insharp focus as illustrated in FIG. 5, there are two mirrors 25a and 25bdisposed behind the shutter plate 23, in order to define a longer pathfor light from the telephoto lens 10a to the photo film 19. The combinedarea of the exposure apertures behind the chambers 15a and 15b lieswithin a single frame of the 35 mm full size. Imaging frames 30a and 30brespectively are of half size, that is, an area formed by dividing afull-size frame in two vertically.

The operation of the photographic film unit will now be described.First, the user rotates the winding wheel 9 to advance the first frameinto the exposure chambers 15a and 15b. The shutter device in theexposure section 4 stands by for photography. A photographic subject isframed or targeted while being observed through the viewfinder 6. Therelease button 7 is depressed. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the kick-awaylever 2 is swung in the direction of arrow A. An intermediate lever 27is biased by the spring 35 counterclockwise. The kick-away lever 2strikes a projection 27a and rotates the intermediate lever 27 in theclockwise direction against the bias of the spring 35.

The lower end of the intermediate lever 27 has a slot 27b, whichslidably receives a pin 23c projecting from the shutter plate 23. Whenthe intermediate lever 27 is rotated clockwise, the right edge of theslot 27b presses the pin 23c to the left in the direction of arrow B, soas to slide the shutter plate 23 in the direction of arrow B. Themovable openings 23a and 23b, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, are superposedon the respective stationary openings 11a and 11b. The movable opening23a is longer than the movable opening 23b in the sliding direction ofthe shutter plate 23. Therefore, upon a single reciprocation of theshutter plate 23, the stationary opening 11a is opened for a longer timethan the stationary opening 11b. Although the focal length differsbetween the lenses 10a and 10b, the exposure time the respectiveexposures with the lenses 10a and 10b is appropriately adjusted, so asto adjust the exposure value to be suitable for the different focallengths.

The subject light entering through the telephoto lens 10a passes throughthe stationary opening 11a, is reflected by the mirrors 25a and then25b, and is focused on the film 19 to make an exposure on the imagingframe 30a. The subject light entering through the wide-angle lens 10bpasses through the stationary opening 11b, and is focused on the film 19to make an exposure of the imaging frame 30b. The two imaging frames 30aand 30b are disposed horizontally side by side.

An exposure is thus completed. To prepare for the next exposure, windingwheel 9 is rotated again. The portion of the film containing the exposedimaging frames 30a and 30b is thus transported and is wound back intothe cassette 20, so as to position behind the exposure chambers 15a and15b an unexposed portion of the film 19 that has been drawn out of theroll 21. Repeated exposure operations in the same manner use up the film19, whereupon "0" is indicated on the counter wheel 8 inside theassociated window. The photographer, without unloading of the film,forwards the entirety of the film unit to a photographic finishingagent, which removes and develops the film and produces photo prints 31as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Each photo print 31 has two simultaneously taken pictures 31a and 31b ofan identical subject. The telephoto picture 31a, made by use of thetelephoto lens 10a, is located on the right. The size of the principalsubject is much enlarged. The wide-angle picture frame 31b, made by useof the wide-angle lens 10b, is located on the left. A wide photographicfield surrounding the principal subject is recorded on frame 31b.

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment in which the front of shutterplate 64 is protected reliably. Elements similar to those of the aboveembodiment are designated with the identical reference numerals. A filmhousing 42 is covered in a cardboard packaging 43, which has openingsfor an exposure section 44, a depressible shutter button portion 45, awinding wheel 46, a viewfinder 47 and a counter window 48. There is atransparent lens plate 50 of resin disposed in the exposure section 44.The lens plate 50 includes a telephoto lens 51 having a focal length of65 mm, for example, and a flat portion 50a having opposite flat parallelfaces.

In FIG. 7, a partition 59 separates an exposure station 60 into twoexposure chambers 61a and 61b terminating rearwardly in exposureapertures, which together have the 35 mm full size. Reference numeral 52designates a main body, 53 a front cover, 54 a rear cover, 56 acassette-containing chamber, and 58 a film supply chamber.

In front of the exposure chamber 61b is disposed a wide-angle lens 62having a focal length of 32 mm for example. The shutter plate 64 isdisposed in front of the lens 62. Reference numerals 64a and 64bdesignate openings in plate 64 that are accordingly movable with plate64, and 51a and 62a designate the respective optical axes of lens 51 and62.

A tension spring 65 biases the shutter plate 64 toward thecassette-containing chamber 56. In an ordinary state, the shutter plate64 is maintained under the bias of the spring 65 in a position to closethe stationary openings 66a and 66b associated with the taking lenses 51and 62. In response to a release of the shutter device, a kick-awaylever (see FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B) slides the shutter plate 64 toward thefilm supply chamber 58. The movable openings 64a and 64b are moved toregister with the optical axes 51a and 62a simultaneously. Then thekick-away lever is disengaged from the shutter plate 64, which isreturned by the spring 65 to the initial position, to terminate theexposure.

In front of the shutter plate 64, a shutter cover 66 is disposed on themain body 52 to cover the shutter plate 64. The shutter cover 66 has notonly the stationary openings 66a and 66b but also two pins 67 formedthereon. The lens plate 50 is mounted in front of the shutter cover 66.The pins 67 are received in holes in the lens plate 50, so as toposition the lens plate 50 precisely on the shutter cover 66. Thetelephoto lens 51 is positioned exactly in front of the stationaryopening 66a. The stationary openings 66a and 66b are thus enclosedtightly by the lens plate 50 and protected from external dirt.

To assemble the unit, the main body 52 is provided with the abovewide-angle lens 62, the shutter plate 64, the shutter cover 66, and thelens plate 50. Then the front cover 53 is secured to the main body 52 tocover the front, that is, to cover exposure section 44. The rear cover54 is also secured behind the main body 52, and covers the rear of thefilm 19, the cassette-containing chamber 56 and the film supply chamber58 in light-tight fashion.

The subject light entering through the telephoto lens 51 passes throughthe stationary opening 66a, and is focused on the film 19 to make anexposure on a smaller imaging frame 57a. The subject light at the sametime passes through the stationary opening 66b and through thewide-angle lens 62, and is focused on the film 19 to make an exposure ona larger imaging frame 57b. The two imaging frames 57a and 57b arehorizontally aligned. The combined area of the two imaging frames 57aand 57b constitutes a single frame of the 35 mm full size. Each photoprint has two picture frames simultaneously exposed. A smaller telephotopicture frame is located on one side. A larger wide-angle picture frameis located on the other side.

The flat portion 50a is formed as extension of the lens plate 50, andoverlies the wide-angle photographing system including the stationaryopening 66b, the shutter plate 64, and the movable opening 64b. It isadvantageous that all of those be protected by a simple construction ofthe flat portion 50a. The shutter plate 64 is thus not exposed to dirtor other external matter, and can be stably actuated without beinginfluenced externally. There is no danger of damage to or accidentaldeformation of the shutter plate 64.

In the above embodiments, the telephoto lens 51 is disposed in front ofthe shutter plate 64, while the wide-angle lens 62 is disposed behindthe shutter plate 64. This is an advantage for simplifying the exposuresection 44 having the shutter device, in association with the telephotoand wide-angle lenses 51 and 62 requiring different dispositionsrelative to the film 19 so that both will be in focus.

FIG. 8 illustrates another preferred lens plate 70, on which anauxiliary lens 70b is formed. A telephoto lens 70a is formed on the lensplate 70, and focuses a subject image on the film 19 fortelephotography. The combination of an inner lens 72 and the auxiliarylens 70b constitutes a lens system, which focuses the subject image onthe film 19 for wide-angle photography. This construction is alsoadvantageous in that the wide-angle lens system can have a still shorterfocal length relative to the telephoto lens 70a. Note that referencenumerals 74 and 76 designate the optical axes of the taking lenses, 78 ashutter plate, 78a and 78b movable openings, 80 a shutter cover, and 80aand 80b stationary openings in the shutter cover 80.

In the above embodiments, the subject light passing through thetelephoto lens 51 or 70a falls directly on the film 19 in the telephotoexposure chamber 61a. Alternatively, there may be arranged two mirrorsfor elongating the light path from the telephoto lens to the film 19, asin the embodiment in FIG. 1. As was pointed out above, in FIG. 1 thesubject light entering through the telephoto lens is reflected by afirst mirror 25a laterally, then reflected by the second mirror 25b inturn toward the film 19, and is focused on the film 19 to make anexposure on a telephoto imaging frame.

In the above embodiments, the lens plate 50 or 70 is mounted andpositioned on the main body 52, before the front cover 53 is secured tothe main body 52. Alternatively, a lens plate may be mounted andpositioned on the rear of the front cover 53 before the securing to themain body 52.

In the above embodiments, the lens plate 50 or 70 has a central steppedportion between the telephoto lens 51 or 70a and either of the flatportion 50a and the auxiliary lens 70b, in order to locate the telephotolens 51, 70a on a level projected toward the front to have a sufficientdistance from the film 19 relative to the flat portion 50a or theauxiliary lens 70b. Alternatively, the lens plate may lack such astepped portion, and may include a telephoto lens and a flat portion oran auxiliary lens formed flush thereon.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of thepreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to thosehaving skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changesand modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, theyshould be construed as being included therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lens-fitted photographic film unit pre-loadedwith photographic film, provided with first and second exposurechambers, and adapted to create first and second imaging framessimultaneously on said film, said film unit comprising:first and secondstationary openings formed respectively in front of said first andsecond exposure chambers for introducing light into said first andsecond exposure chambers; a first taking lens associated with said firststationary opening and having a first focal length; a second taking lensassociated with said second stationary opening and having a second focallength longer than said first focal length; externally operable shutterrelease means; a single shutter plate disposed to be moved in responseto operation of said release means; and first and second movableopenings formed in said shutter plate for registry with said first andsecond stationary openings, and adapted, when said shutter plate ismoved, to open or close said stationary openings so as to expose saidfilm, said second movable opening being larger than said first movableopening.
 2. A lens-fitted photographic film unit as defined in claim 1,wherein said first and second stationary openings are equal in size. 3.A lens-fitted photographic film unit as defined in claim 1, whichfurther comprises:a body containing said photographic film andincorporating said release means and said shutter plate; and a frontcover secured in front of said body, said first and second lenses beingmounted between said front cover and said body.
 4. A lens-fittedphotographic film unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first andsecond lenses are arranged in a transport direction of said film, andsaid shutter plate slides in said transport direction.
 5. A lens-fittedphotographic film unit as defined in claim 4, wherein-said secondmovable opening is longer than said first movable opening in saidtransport direction.
 6. A lens-fitted photographic film unit as definedin claim 1, further comprising a shutter cover disposed in front of saidshutter plate for covering said shutter plate, said first and secondlenses being mounted in front of said shutter cover.
 7. A lens-fittedphotographic film unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first andsecond lenses are formed on a single lens plate.
 8. A lens-fittedphotographic film unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising:a firstmirror disposed behind said second lens for reflecting said lightpassing through said second lens, to direct said light away from saidfirst lens; and a second mirror disposed in front of said film forreflecting said light reflected by said first mirror, to direct saidlight to said film.
 9. A lens-fitted photographic film unit as definedin claim 1, wherein said first and second frames are equal in size onsaid film.
 10. A lens-fitted photographic film unit as defined in claim1, further comprising a transparent lens plate disposed in front of saidshutter plate to cover said shutter plate, and provided with said secondlens.
 11. A lens-fitted photographic film unit as defined in claim 10,wherein said first lens is disposed behind said shutter plate.
 12. Alens-fitted photographic film unit as defined in claim 11, wherein aportion of said lens plate located in front of said first movableopening, is provided with an auxiliary lens formed thereon that isdisposed on an optical axis of said first lens.